MMM042: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

Module code: MMM042

Module provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Anlan Chen, email: a.chen@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the distinctive features of management in the SME environment, its complexity, the additional challenges and risks related to the small dimension, but also its advantages.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the impact of size on the management of businesses, from their capability in raising finance to undertaking R&D, to marketing and implementing growth strategies. 
2. Question relevant theories deriving from research on large corporations and apply this body of knowledge to SMEs.
3. Prepare and present a business growth plan for a case study firm. The financing of the intended growth and sales expectations will need to be demonstrated. 
4. Achieve a critical understanding of the importance of SMEs in contemporary economies, and their strengths and weaknesses as compared to large enterprises.

Module content

The module discusses the concept and various aspects of entrepreneurship and small business management, e.g., factors leading to new business development and the importance of the small business sector in our economies. Researching the viability of a business growth idea and preparing an analytical report is an important component of the module.
Various strategic aspects of SME management will be discussed, such as operation, finance, marketing, culture, structure and patterns of business organisations. The module is organised thematically and for each topic empirical examples are drawn.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module consists of lectures (10x2) and seminars (2x2). The main topics of the syllabus are covered in the lectures. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with key readings and contribute to the lectures, sharing their ideas and relevant work experience.

Seminars enable students to work in groups on their business growth analysis. Invited experts contribute to the programme by sharing knowledge and discussing experiences in small business management.

Students will work both independently, and in groups, leading to the development of time-management and team working skills. They should be able to organise materials and articulate arguments effectively in writing, both under timed conditions and in assessed coursework assignments.

Study hours

At least 24 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In-class presentation practice

Reassessment

Additional costs